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WILLIAM MONT. STORM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SAFE FOR SHIPS .AND OTHER VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 15,090, dated June 10, 1856.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WVM. MONT. STORM, of the city and State of New York, have invented a new and useful machine, apparatus, or device constituting a waterproof and iireproof safe for the use of vessels, which is so constructed that it will remain buoyant should t-he vessel sink, and thus preserve its contents of gold-dust, specie, precious stones, importations of jewelry, valuable papers, &c., to the amount of several tons in weight.

Description md details-Figure 'l is a central, vertical, (partial) section Fig. 2, a top view; Fig. 3 a view of the entire safe, &c., as located in the vessel; a cross section of which is delineated. Fig. 4L shows a front view of the waterproof door of the safe, clamped shut by its lever and cam latch cl d. Fig. 5, is a horizontal section through the last figure.

A, A, represents vthe deck of a vessel through which there is made a hatchway or opening into which there is fitted tight, a circular receptacle B, B, tapering toward the bottom, and iiXed to the vessel. This outer fixed casing, tapering as seen to a greater diameter at the top, and that top open to the deck is absolutely necessary as a sheath and guide to the buoyant safe, in order that it may not be jammed fast by storage around the latter as would be likely to occur; also that it may not be caught and held from rising when the vessel sinks, doc. Within this casing, and fitting it loosely, is the safe or buoy C, similar in form eX- ternally, for obvious reasons.

The top of C, forms the cover or hatch to B. The bottom Z), of B is detached from the main body so as to permit the water to flow freely in at c, under and around C, to float it out of B, as the vessel sinks. By making B, of two thicknesses and filling the space m, with fire composition similar to that used in ordinary fire-safes, I render B able to fulfill in a ready manner the extra duty of a lireproof casing to the safe C,

and as B, is in any case indispensible to the operation of O, the eXtra cost of two thick nesses or shells to B, will not present any material objection on that account. Supposing C, to be of the dimensions, 8 feet high, by 6 broad at the top, and 5 at the bottom, it would have a total displacement of 5 tons and upwardwhen immersed to 0, 0.

In the bottom of C, is a cubical deposit chamber D, (with shelves m independently and of itself made watertight, so that if water should penetrate the buoying chamber O, when the safe was afloat, through any accidental puncture of its outer shell, it would not enter the deposit chamber and injure the contents. I should here explain that the deposit chamber is closed watertight by a door E, which shuts aganist an india rubber seating or packed amb, and as closed is compressed and held firmly down upon the seating by the cam and lever or latch (l operated upon by the leverage of the arm or handle el.

O, is formed, as shown, of two separate thicknesses of metal, or shells independently water tight and the inner shell at least (if not both) of sheet metal sufficiently thin to yield to a blow and delve (from striking on rocks when going aground on a lee shore for instance) rather than offer sufficient resistance to start its riveted and solderedv seams; but, to provide against the conse quences of a puncture by striking on any unusually sharp point or crag the space between theser two distinctly watertight shells is filled by a casing or shell composed of india rubber, for instance, which if punctured, from its elasticity closes t-he hole, or the space may be filled tightly with cotton, rammed in, and this when the shell was punctured would from the absorption of water swell so tightly as to prevent any material quantity from filtering through to the interior of O, to destroy its bouyancy, for a very considerable length of time.

It will be observed that the entire device is so arranged as not to form any material projection or obstruction upon the vessels deck with which it must indispensably communicate to secure the free and unobstructed rise of the safe when the vessel goes down.

From top to bottom of O, passes a large tube Z sealed from communication with C but having an opening to the exterior at top and bottom. Vithin this tube is a float z carrying a light flag staffI and pennant, as seen, which will be hoisted by the rise of z when the safe is afloat, in a manner that will be readily understood. This flag waving about as the safe rocks, serves to attract the eye and render the safe a conspicuous object for a great distance on sea.

Near the top of C, its diameter is contracted so as to leave an annular or circumferential recess and shoulder c, in which lie folded up, a series of hinged staples or bails about 18 inches across and which when the safe is afloat will throw down horizontally as shown by f, Fig. 2. In each of the Abail's one person can nd a secure lodgment either hanging by the arm-pits, the body being immersed, or sitting in the bail and facing the safe or in still water the person can sit on the top of the safe bracing the feet in the bail. The safe is thus made to serve the purpose of a life-preserver. Sitting and clinging it will accommodate 40 persons readily, and having the quality of launching itself it would often prove useful in cases of disaster, where through neglect, excitement, derangement of tackle, and other unforeseen causes, even a life boat might often prove unavailable with the ne cessary promptitude the safe however, from its arrangement being always ready.

In the top is a locker g, sealed from communication with the interior of C, in which a line and other articles useful in emergency may be placed. This locker may have a trap door, or doors as e', in the top, or in the sides, opposite the bails-also water tight.

E is the door (fire proof) of the receiver or sheath B.

On the top of C should be a couple of ring bolts by which to hoist in and out of the vessel when desired.

D, can be locked as is any other ordinary safe and can also be made burglar proof in the same manner. Its main object however is saving property of the nature mentioned (which now is in almost every instance a total loss whether to the individual or insurance companies) and which it could not fail to preserve unless the safe itself was never again found; and this could not be the case on the lakes or the Mississippi River for instance, and seldom on sea, where nearly every wreck is olf a lee shore to which the safe would quickly drive after the vessel sank. A light self unfurling sail might be adapted to the flag staff to aid this.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- Y l. The combination of the receptacle or sheath B, open at the bottom and at its top open to the upper deck, with the (independently water tight) double shelled buoy C, having within it the, again, independently water tight deposit chamber for valuables, said chamber being accessible from the exterior by a water tight door, closing and clamping for that purpose on an elastic seating, &c., substantially as described.

2. I claim the buoy, the tube, flag and float e, e, for the purpose explained.

WM. MONT. STORM.

Witnesses:

R. L. NEVINS, W. Gr. NUTTING. 

